Texas summers can be brutal. When temperatures rise into the triple digits, most people turn to air conditioning or shade to stay safe. But in some Brazoria County nursing homes, elderly residents are left in rooms without working air conditioning, without water, and without help. That kind of neglect can lead to heat exhaustion—or worse, deadly heatstroke.
Older adults are especially vulnerable to heat. Their bodies don’t adjust to high temperatures as easily, and many take medications that affect hydration. When staff ignore complaints, fail to monitor room temperatures, or don’t give residents enough water, it can cause serious harm. The warning signs often show up too late: confusion, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or even unconsciousness. By then, the damage may already be done.
Some residents pass out and suffer head injuries. Others go into organ failure. And in the most heartbreaking cases, families lose someone they love. Many of these tragedies could have been prevented. Nursing homes have a legal duty to protect residents from known dangers. That includes extreme heat. When they fail to fix broken air conditioners, ignore medical signs, or leave people unattended for long periods of time, they can and should be held responsible.
We’ve seen families in Pearland, Alvin, and across Brazoria County deal with the aftermath of this kind of negligence. Sometimes the home tries to hide what really happened. They’ll blame “underlying conditions” or “natural causes.” But if your loved one was healthy and alert just days before, and then suddenly becomes confused or passes away during a heatwave, something isn’t right. That’s when it’s time to ask questions—and get answers.
These cases often involve more than one mistake. Maybe the staff never checked vital signs. Maybe no one responded to the call button. Maybe they skipped regular hydration or refused to move a resident to a cooler room. Each of those failures puts lives at risk. In legal terms, that’s more than just poor care—it’s negligence.
Families who file nursing home injury claims may recover damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, and in some cases, wrongful death. A successful case also forces the facility to change how it treats others. It sends a message that cutting corners won’t be tolerated, not in Brazoria County, and not anywhere in Texas.
If your loved one was hospitalized or died during a summer heatwave while in a nursing home, trust your instincts. You know what’s normal. You know when something feels wrong. We’re here to help you find out the truth and hold the right people accountable. No one should suffer or die from something so preventable.
Call us at (281) 557-6406 or contact us here to schedule a free consultation. Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again.